The New Europe Center and The German Marshall Fund of the United States have jointly organized the online discussion “Ukraine, Georgia and the Future of the Transatlantic Alliance”, during which Alyona Getmanchuk and Irakli Porchkidze presented the joint New Europe Center and The Georgian Institute for Strategic Studies (GISS) Ukrainian-Georgian recommendations regarding the new NATO strategic concept.

The timing for the discussion was indeed perfect given that just before the event NATO reflection group members had met with Secretary General Stoltenberg in order to present their ideas and their contribution to NATO Reflection process 2030.

Alyona Getmanchuk has pointed out that in order to be ambitious and comprehensive NATO Reflection Process 2030 needs to take into account vision of Ukraine and Georgia:

• These countries have a double meaning and are playing double role for the Alliance – as partners and as countries that are aspiring to become NATO members.
• Both countries have proven that they can be not only consumers but also contributors to Euro-Atlantic security by taking an effective part in the Alliance’s missions and operations.

According to the New Europe Center director, Ukraine and Georgia expect:

• that NATO will stick to its open door policy and application of this policy should not be selective. Georgia and Ukraine should be offered a credible roadmap to the membership. It is also in NATO’s interest to support the reform efforts of Partner Countries;
• that Ukraine and Georgia will be properly recognized in new NATO strategic documents as integral parts to the security of the Black Sea region. In our view elaborating coherent Black Sea Strategy with participation of Georgia and Ukraine matches NATO’s interests;
• that NATO would continue identifying Russia as the main long-term threat to the security of allies and its partners.

The paper “NATO Reflection Process 2030. Joint expert view from Ukraine and Georgia” is available here.